Child&#39;s table



Feb. 15, 1949. A, B|GGERSTAFF 2,461,715

CHILDS TABLE Filed NOV 26, 1947 Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STAUTIEZS PATENT OFF ICE 2,461,715 oifiLns TABLE Andrew Gl-Biggerstaffl ltumson N. J. "apbiiatidnuovnlter 26, 1947;Serial M38834:

(chair- 1) i '3fllaims.

This inventionrelates to a childfs' table I The invention is more particularly'concemed with a table top construction for accommodating a'childs chair as well'as the body of a child se'atedin thefchair. a v I w I In the'pastyso called high chairsfhave been used for 'seat ingsm'all children and such chairs; in most'instances, included a swingably mounted tray' which not only'served to retain a' child in the chair but also as a means for'supportin'g food, toys, and the like;

While suchforms of chairs were, for the most part, satisfactory, nevertheless they were not en- I dOWd- With' theTeql'lif'edsafty, ltii""'th reason that a child could, by leaning well over to one side, upset the chair with resulting injury to the Child.

, Furthermore, the trays associated with the re"- ferred to chairs'were of relatively small dimensions and, as a'result of which, the child was quite apt to displace food dishes or toys from" the tray and onto the floor, either accidently or intentionally, and after any articleor toy had fallen to the floor, the child commonly leaned. over-to ascertainthe whereabouts of sang with z'gfpiolaa bility of thechair falling over and injuryi'ng" the child.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a table having a top construction formed for receiving and surrounding a portion of a childs chair as well as providing a relatively large plane surface for the placement of dishes, toys or the like within easy reach of a child seated in the chair, whereby the advantages of the hitherto used high chair are retained while the disadvantages thereof are overcome.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a childs table having a top portion including a slidable panel provided with a substantially large opening through one end thereof for receiving a childs chair, the slidable panel providing for displacement of the opening relative to the chair to facilitate easy seating of a child therein.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a childs table having a top including a panel having an opening therein for receiving a chair, the panel being wholly removable and reversible whereby the two sides, which may be of different colors, can be selectively presented uppermost in the table top.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a childs table which is of relatively simple construction, durable, and which meets 1'3 interconnect the parallel to and in spaced relation to the bars I'I,

. The bars I3 and 2 the inaikimum requirements of devices of this kind.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent in the course of the fol-- lowing' detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 i's'a broken isometric View showing theimpro'ved table in operative position.

Fig. '2 is a similar view showing the slidable panel partiallywithdrawn. v

'Fig. 3 is-a vertical s'ectional view ihthe-plane of line' a-aon Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the-impioved'taMe comprises a top T an'd supporting legs L; tlilatte'r o'f'whioh maybe of any desired form and connected to the top in any desired manner, the present invention being restricted to theitopT-L 1 1 The'top' Thompris'e's what maybe termed a rear-end bar It, opposite side bars II, and a front bar I2, although the top maybe preferably square in plan.

A pair of reinforcing and panel supporting bars bars I0 and I2 and extend arid the bars [3 are interconnected by a bar I4 which is parallel to and in spaced relation to bar l2.

The marginal frame bars I0 and II are of the same and of substantial depth, while the reinforcing and supporting bars I 3 and I I are of uniform depth but less than that of bars I0 and II. I 4 are preferably flush with bars Ii), II and I2, but the I3 and I4 are in a plane substantially below the plane of the upper edges of bars I0 and II, and the latter are provided with a groove I5 disposed immediately above the upper edges of bars I3 and I4.

The frame thus described may be of any desired material, but is preferably constructed of wood, and the bars III to I4 are of sufficient dimensions to lend proper strength to the frame.

A relatively thin panel [6 which may be constructed of Masonite, plywood or any other desired material is provided with a relatively large opening I! made through the edge of the panel adjacent frame bar I0, and the opposite sides of the opening are preferably flush with the adjacent surfaces of bars I3.

The panel I 6 has its opposite side edges slidably disposed in the grooves I 5 in bars I I, and the rear end of the panel is receivable in groove I 5 in rear bar I 0 in the closed operative position of the panel, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

the lower edges of upper edges of bars The front edge of panel I6 is provided with a bar or header l8 which rests above bar 12 in the closed position of the panel, and bars l2 and 18 are substantially of equal depth and have a combined depth equal to that of bars H.

Suitable latching means, such as illustrated at H) and 20, may be provided for latching the panel in closed operative position, as in Fig. 1.

The opening I] is adapted to receive a childs chair which may rest on the floor but more preferably be supported from the top frame, and the opening, of course, provides space for a child seated in such chair.

With a chair disposed within the opening in the relatively heavy table, whether such chair rests on the floor or be supported by the table, it cannot be upset, even in the event of strenuous activities of a child in the chair, and the relatively large surfaced panel provides ample room for food vessels, toys, or the like with little probability of same being thrown to the floor.

By the provision of the slidable panel it may be partially withdrawn, as in Fig. 2, for easy placement of a child within a chair, and the slidable feature further provides for the total withdrawal of the panel for cleaning thereof.

Since the panel is of a single unitary construction and due to its taut slidable fit in the grooves 15, there are no crevices for lodgment of food, whereby the improved top is highly sanitary.

The panel may be of different colors on its opposite sides and may be used reversibly, in which event, of course, a latch recess 19 would be provided in each edge of header i8, 01' other latching means may be provided which do not require such recesses.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. A childs table comprising a rectangular top frame including opposite side bars, a rear bar and a front bar, said side and rear bars being provided with alined grooves in a plane intermediate the top and lower edges of the bars, and a single table top including a relatively thin panel slidably disposed in the grooves in the side bars and the rear end of the panel adapted to be received in the groove in the rear bar in the closed position thereof, the front bar being disposed below the plane of said grooves, and the front end of the panel being provided with a header bar adapted to rest on .said front bar in the closed position of the panel, and releasa ble locking means between bars.

2. A childs table according to claim 1, wherein said panel is provided with a relatively large chair-receiving opening midway of and in spaced relation to the opposite sides of the panel, and the opening extending into the panel from the rear edge thereof and being bounded by parallel straight side edges and a rounded end edge in spaced relation to the front edge of the panel. I 3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said rear and front bars areinterconnected by a pair of spaced parallel reinforcing and panelsupporting bars, said last bars being spaced apart equal to the width of said opening and being interconnectedby a bar at right. angles thereto, whichlatter bar is disposed adjacent the curved end edge'of the opening in the closed position of the panel.

ANDREW G. BIGGERSTAFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 178,548 Nelson June 13, 1876 427,116 Rosenthal May 6, 1890 1,300,759 Nielsen Apr. 15, 1919 2,161,657 Hansburg June 6, 1939 2,170,013 Detwiler Aug. 22, 1939 2,292,797 Roberts Aug. 11, 1942 2,397,528 Brandwen Apr. 2, 1946 2,429,498 Wells Oct. 21, 1947 the front and header 

